Jerel @ #59 to Detroit in 2009 NBA Draft

[77ncaachamps]

http://nbadraft.net/index.asp?content=mock2009

At least it's good to see some recognition for McSteal.

[jficke13]

im not sure how much faith id put in that. it has thabeet going to the bucks at #7... thabeet said hes coming back to uconn next year.
it also has hansborough in the draft... it's like they aren't even trying to stay current.

[Wareagle]

im not sure how much faith id put in that. it has thabeet going to the bucks at #7... thabeet said hes coming back to uconn next year.

It's the projected '09 draft. 

[4thAndState]

It's the 2009 draft projections. I think in '09 Jerel will do better 

[MUWeb7]

Being from michigan and a pistons fan...I would love this. I think that he would excel playing with the pistons and learning from billups and rip. That would be such a great opportunity for him.

But...too bad its just a projection....   

[Mayor McCheese]

the best is I really doubt Milwaukee would take Thabeet... we have Bogut, just drafted a project in Yi.... get a SF, SG, or PG... please Milwaukee... McNeal would be a very good fit in Milwaukee, would be loved, would get massive PT, and would become the Bucks Bruce Bowen in 5 years... do it, 2nd round, get on it!

[RawdogDX]

the best is I really doubt Milwaukee would take Thabeet... we have Bogut, just drafted a project in Yi.... get a SF, SG, or PG... please Milwaukee... McNeal would be a very good fit in Milwaukee, would be loved, would get massive PT, and would become the Bucks Bruce Bowen in 5 years... do it, 2nd round, get on it!

What teams they have picking where isn't really relevant since who knows who will be on the teams at that point and even if milwaukee or any team will be a top 10 or bottom 10 pick.  All it really does is let you know where people expect next years players to rank in the eyes of scouts. 

[jficke13]

whoops, didnt realize it was for 09.

[mosarsour]

...and would become the Bucks Bruce Bowen in 5 years... do it, 2nd round, get on it!

If Bruce Bowen was 6'2

[Dienerfor3]

I doubt Jerel will even actually stay for the draft.  He hasn't hired an agent and will learn what needs to work on like neek did and will come back to the same team as last year minus Judas.

[Mayor McCheese]

If Bruce Bowen was 6'2

I bet you San Antonio wishes McNeal was on the team right now, to try and contain Paul.  I think the NBA doesn't look at defense as much as they should.  Partly why I hardly watch the NBA, no defense.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I bet you San Antonio wishes McNeal was on the team right now, to try and contain Paul.  I think the NBA doesn't look at defense as much as they should.  Partly why I hardly watch the NBA, no defense.

I used to feel the exact same way... but there was an interesting article from Bill Simmons (I think it was him) last year or the year before.

Basically, he went down the litany of reasons why the NBA actually does play good d... but it doesn't really appear like it because the guys are so ultra talented 1 on 1 that it's really not possible to guard anybody when they are playing well. (think about when Gilbert Arenas hits a couple of 28ft jumpers in a row... how do you guard that?)

Honestly, I think NCAA is a more entertaining game because the guys aren't so big and so talented. The guys in the NBA are almost too good and too big. I'm amazed by their abilities, but it's not a well executed style of ball... the guys are so good that execution really goes out the window sometimes.

[77ncaachamps]

I used to feel the exact same way... but there was an interesting article from Bill Simmons (I think it was him) last year or the year before.

Basically, he went down the litany of reasons why the NBA actually does play good d... but it doesn't really appear like it because the guys are so ultra talented 1 on 1 that it's really not possible to guard anybody when they are playing well. (think about when Gilbert Arenas hits a couple of 28ft jumpers in a row... how do you guard that?)

Honestly, I think NCAA is a more entertaining game because the guys aren't so big and so talented. The guys in the NBA are almost too good and too big. I'm amazed by their abilities, but it's not a well executed style of ball... the guys are so good that execution really goes out the window sometimes.

I concur with that last paragraph.

I enjoy the individual prowess as well as team execution.

But with that said, the NBA game is so much star-driven.

Can you imagine MJ or Kobe passing the ball off at the last seconds to someone else to make the big shot, when they have a good chance of making it? Ugh.

[The Lens]

Can you imagine MJ or Kobe passing the ball off at the last seconds to someone else to make the big shot, when they have a good chance of making it? Ugh.

John Paxson can, so can Steve Kerr, and Robert Horry, and Derek Fisher.

The NBA is a hugely superior product from baseline to baseline.  The best in the world, playing the game at it's highest level.  Now the piped in music, the way too long regular season, the horrible crowds of Charlotte, Atlanta, New Orleans, New Jersey etc etc make it seem bad but those are ancillary issues.  On the court it is the best basketball.

To Mayor's point, the NBA is a defense driven league.  Look no further than Steve Novak; probably the best 3pt shooter in the league and 6'10" but even a offensive minded coach won't play him.

I always get a kick out of college fans who talk about the number of NBA guys their team has, but then trash the NBA.  Isn't the NBA made up of 75% former college players?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

The NBA is a hugely superior product from baseline to baseline.  The best in the world, playing the game at it's highest level.  Now the piped in music, the way too long regular season, the horrible crowds of Charlotte, Atlanta, New Orleans, New Jersey etc etc make it seem bad but those are ancillary issues.  On the court it is the best basketball.

I agree that its the most talented basketball... I just don't think it's the most entertaining.

Give a me a good college rivalry any day over any NBA game (even the playoffs).

[bleedbluegold03]

my biggest bief is not so much with players as the officials. Too often great players get the benefit of the doubt on calls or four steps in the lane is ok because refs were awed by the play. I am happy to say i have watched maybe twenty minutes of the nba all season and I turned on the jazz laker game last night to see deron williams make an amazing play only to see the refs let him take four steps to the hoop. Bad officiating waters down a game plain and simple.

[Mayor McCheese]

my question then comes...

If the NBA is the best basketball in the world, and the defense is good, and the execution is great, like some of you have pointed out...

why can't we win the Olympics?

I think in the NBA the concept of team, team defense, and execution are thrown out the window, for instance the stat I heard yesterday...

LeBron James in the Boston-Cleveland series, the WHOLE series, has made less then 10 points from the 6ft-20ft range.... its all three or to the lane, or free throws...

I can't stand the constant travels and carries, only to watch someone get fouled at the free throw line, then is able to take two more steps and get a shot off, continuation?  Complete garbage.

Give me college any day of the week, the NBA and their dumb rules mixed in with street ball play turns me off to the game. 

[Murffieus]

The reason we don't win at the Olympics despite having a roster of the greatest players is twofold:

First of all we're playing against teams that have played together for a long time and are very well coached as a team. Meanwhile our guys haven't played together that long and are hard to coach because of their huge egos.

Secondly, the international teams jam the middle on defense and take away our major threat (dribble penetration)------our best players selected are overwhelmingly very athletic, but not blessed with great perimeter shooting!